“‘Yes, sir,’ said he, with another frown, ‘our trade with the Esquimaux.’
“‘Bears are pretty brisk, too,’ said I; ‘but foxes is falling,—there will be no stir in squirrels till near spring. I heard it myself from Snaggs, who is in that line.’
“‘D—n Snaggs,’ said he, scowling at me.
“‘Well, d—n him,’ said I, too; ‘he owes me thirteen and fonrpence, balance of a little account between us.’
“This unlucky speech of mine seemed to have totally disgusted my aristocratic companion, for he drew his cap down over his eyes, folded his arms upon his breast, stretched out his legs, and soon fell asleep; not, however, with such due regard to the privileges of the humbler classes as became One of his benevolent Whig principles, for he fell over against me, flattening me into a corner of the vehicle, where he used me as a bolster, and this for thirty-two miles of the journey.
“‘Where are we?’ said he, starting up suddenly; ‘what’s the name of this place?’
“‘This is Stretton,’ said I. ‘I must look sharp, for I get out at Chesterfield.’
“‘Are you known here,’ said my companion, ‘to any one in these parts?’